U.S. treasurer touts small biz Qns. loans

The Queens Chronicle wrote on the recent visit of Treasurer Rosie Rios as she praised an Astoria bank as an example of Obama's initiatives to help small businesses, as part of a larger plan to recover the nation's economy. Senator Gianaris spoke about how the SBL fund could have a major impact on the Queens community that is largely comprised of immigrants, but that the state itself is not strong enough to offer a program as such on its own.

The treasurer of the United States was on hand at an Astoria bank on Monday, touting it as a prime example of an Obama administration initiative to help small business.

Treasurer Rosie Rios was promoting the U.S. Treasury Department’s Small Business Lending Fund during a visit to the 31st Street branch of Alma Bank with Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens and the Bronx) and local city and state officials.

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Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) and state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) all said the SBL Fund can continue to have a vital impact in the area, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations. Gianaris added, however, that the state right now is not in a strong position to have a similar program of its own.

Read the full article here.